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April 2016

April 20

Brazilians dismayed as deputies cite God during impeachment vote

April 20, 2016

SAO PAULO – Christian leaders said they felt uncomfortable that so many members of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies invoked religion as they voted to authorize an impeachment process for Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff.

#280today: LifeCanada takes to social media

April 20, 2016

A pro-life message aimed at bringing to light the 280 abortions that take place in Canada each day is set to hit multiple social media platforms.

April 21

Planned Parenthood CEO at Georgetown dismissive of pro-life views

April 21, 2016

WASHINGTON – Members of Georgetown Right to Life were hoping for dialogue with Cecile Richards, but complained after her April 20 speech that she was dismissive of anything spoken by pro-life students.

We must memorize God’s beautiful deeds in our lives

April 21, 2016

Pope Francis on Thursday urged Christians always to memorize the way and circumstances in which God has been present in our lives, saying this helps to strengthen our faith. His words came during his homily at Mass celebrated at the Santa Marta residence.

End cycle of famine

April 21, 2016

Once again Africa is reeling from a hunger crisis and appealing for humanitarian aid. And once again the world’s sated nations have a moral duty to generously respond.

Love — a projection and a reality

April 21, 2016

The famed Jungian writer Robert Johnson makes this observation about falling in love: “To fall in love is to project the most noble and infinitely valuable part of one’s being onto another human being... We have to say that the divinity we see in others is truly there, but we don’t have a right to see it until we have taken away our own projections... Making this fine distinction is the most delicate and difficult task in life.”

Rescued refugees report hundreds drowned in Mediterranean

April 21, 2016

ROME – The same day Pope Francis brought 12 Syrian refugees to Rome from Greece, a merchant ship rescued 41 refugees, including a three-year-old child. They told human rights workers they saw as many as 500 others drown when the refugees' boat sank.

We are not alone when we walk in love

April 21, 2016

Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year C) May 1 (Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29) There are two basic approaches to drawing people to a relationship with God and an experience of divine love and mercy. Some anxiously, and usually angrily, place as many obstacles before others as possible. They set conditions that have to be met before someone can belong to the community or dare to approach God. But there is another approach, and that is to place as few obstacles or conditions before people as possible — in short, do everything in one’s power to bring them home.

D&P joins NGOs calling for food security

April 21, 2016

OTTAWA – The Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, along with 25 NGOs in the Canadian Food Security Policy Group, is calling for Canada to help small family farms worldwide that are suffering from the impact of climate change and pressures from agribusiness.

British bishops welcome Commons vote to declare Islamic State atrocities 'genocide'

April 21, 2016

LONDON – Catholic bishops have welcomed a unanimous vote by the House of Commons declaring atrocities committed by Islamic State as "genocide."

Vatican suspends outside audit while reviewing contract

April 21, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Four months after announcing it had hired the firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an external audit of its finances, the Vatican has suspended the work underway.

Divine Mercy painting finds a new home

April 21, 2016

TORONTO – A painting of the Divine Mercy put up for adoption last year by the man who commissioned it more than a decade ago has finally found a new home at St. Francis de Sales Church in Ajax, Ont.

April 22

Burundi’s Catholic Church labelled ‘terrorist’ by government

April 22, 2016

A serious breakdown between the powerful Roman Catholic Church and the government in Burundi is raising concerns over stability in the East African nation, as senior government officials accuse the Church of sponsoring violence.

A Christian cannot keep quiet about announcing gospel

April 22, 2016

Pope Francis on Friday urged Christians to have the courage to announce the good news about Jesus, just like the Apostles who testified to Christ’s resurrection even at the cost of their lives. The Pope’s words came during his morning Mass at the Santa Marta residence where he said announcing the gospel, intercession and hope are the three interlinked dimensions of a Christian life. Friday (April 22nd) marked the 43rd anniversary of the religious profession of Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

Head of Knights urges action by U.S. after Kerry's genocide declaration

April 22, 2016

WASHINGTON – If Christians and other religious minorities disappear in Iraq and Syria, "pluralism and stability leave with them," the head of the Knights of Columbus told a U.S. congressional commission April 19.

A pro-information look at abortion without the hostilities

April 22, 2016

Pro-life versus pro-choice has dominated the abortion debate for as long as the issue has been around. A new documentary film hopes to go beyond that debate.

Is Canada really back on the global stage?

April 22, 2016

The phrase “Canada is back” has been increasingly present in the discourse about the values of our new government and its place in the global community.

Stay engaged, but the Supreme Court has spoken, says bioethicist on euthanasia bill

April 22, 2016

TORONTO – One of Canada’s two members of the Pontifical Academy for Life – a leading bioethicist and major researcher into disability issues – is urging Catholics to engage legislators to minimize the damage of the new assisted suicide law.

Catholic official says Zambians shocked by xenophobic violence

April 22, 2016

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Zambians are shocked and ashamed of the xenophobic violence in the capital, Lusaka, in which mostly Rwandans' homes and shops were ransacked, a Church official said.

Alpha launches new film series for new generation

April 22, 2016

Alpha Canada is hoping to inspire a new generation with the launch of its new and improved Alpha Film Series.